Two 20-year-old female marketing students, from the United States, have filed a report with the Cannes police accusing a U.S. advertising contractor, also attending the festival, of sexual assault. According to Adweek’s Rebecca Stewart, the incident reportedly took place in the early hours of June 20, in the garden of the Carlton Hotel during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Referred to as ‘Emma’ and ‘Julie’ in the article to protect their identities, both claim the man groped them and made inappropriate comments about the role of men’s “forwardness” in achieving success in the advertising industry. Through his lawyer, the accused man, described as in his “late 30s,” denied the allegations, stating the claims were “entirely false.” The young women were prepared to go public but reconsidered after receiving letters threatening legal action, including one sent to ‘Julie’s’ home address.
The Incident at the Carlton
The two students, who were attending the advertising festival for class credit, were excited to network at the Carlton, which had been recommended as a late-night hub for creatives. Their anticipation turned to fear when the accused allegedly approached them. According to their accounts, the man—who appeared intoxicated—grabbed her and asked her to spin around multiple times, claiming he wanted to “get a better look.” Despite ‘Julie’s’ attempts to distance herself, he continued his advances.
When the man turned his attention to ‘Emma,’ he became more aggressive, touching her inappropriately and telling her that accepting men’s advances was necessary for success in the business world. When she resisted, he allegedly threatened to hit her. The women managed to de-escalate the situation and left the venue, shaken and upset.
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Taking Action
The next day, both students reported the incident to Cannes Lions security, who promised to revoke the man’s delegate pass. However, it was later revealed that he was not an official pass holder. The students then filed reports with the Cannes police. The case is currently with French prosecutors, though the women have not received updates.
The tech company associated with the accused issued a statement to Adweek, explaining that the man was a contractor, not a full-time employee and that his consultancy contract had been suspended pending an internal investigation.
Safety Concerns at Cannes
The Cannes Lions festival, which attracted 12,000 attendees in 2024, including students drawn by educational programs like Young Lions, has been under increased scrutiny for safety concerns in recent years. Festival organizers have taken steps to address sexual harassment, partnering with industry groups like timeTo. However, “Emma and Julie’s” experience highlights ongoing issues.
Festival organizers confirmed to Adweek that they rely on incident reports from attendees but could not provide specific data related to sexual assaults. Security measures are handled by individual hotel venues, with Cannes Lions’ security teams trained to intervene and report any dangerous behavior.
In 2024, other women have also shared troubling accounts of sexual misconduct at the festival. Freelance TV director Dagmar Bennett wrote in Campaign about being propositioned by a business associate, while advertising veteran Cindy Gallop described witnessing sexist behavior during presentations.
For help, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-4673. To read the full article, click here.
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